Financial Aid Available to Operation Iraqi Freedom War Veterans - Essay Example

Zakariah Nass Ms.Tulora Roeckers English 100 March 23, Financial Aid Available to Operation Iraqi Freedom War Veteran's at Kansas State University A "War Veteran" is one who has had long service in the armed military force and has had experience in warfare. He is also referred to as former military personnel. A veteran has to dedicate his entire life for the protection of his countrymen and sacrifices his own personal well being for the welfare of his country. "The willingness with which our young people are likely to serve in any war, no matter how justified, shall be directly proportional as to how they perceive the Veterans of earlier wars were treated and appreciated by their country." - George Washington War veterans deserve our honor and respect for their iron will and determination to meet the ill effects of war that pose a serious threat to their lives and their families. "We have to care for the veteran who shall have borne the battle and for his widow and his orphan" Abraham Lincoln in 1865 in his second inaugural address Ever since the war started in Afghan and Iraq the national guards of the United States have been deployed there. About 160,000 guards have served in Iraq and Afghan and around 100,000 are yet to return. Wounded soldiers of the war after their comeback from combat zones struggle to return to normal civilian life because of the trauma and the hardships they had undergone during war. Many of them are disabled for life by loosing a limb, have suffered burns or have to face the reality of spending the rest of their lives in a wheel chair. They also suffer from post traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Nass, 1 Many veterans have just one weekend in a month to spend time with their families and their long absence during war times creates severe strain on their family members and their return home after being in the war zone for a longtime can make reintegration into their families and jobs a very difficult process. Never in the history of the world has any soldier sacrificed more for the freedom and liberty of total strangers than the American soldier. - Zell Miller (D) Georgia 2004 After the first world war called the Vietnam War, the deployed veterans who came back Grew discontent when they could not find a decent employment to support their standard of living. They formed great protest movements such as the BONUS ARMY to claim a bonus which the congress has promised them. After the Second World War many states set up their own veterans organizations such as the American Legion and Veterans of Foreign war organization which had the GI bill enforced and enacted which gave veterans free access to education and health care for the betterment of their lives. This created tremendous economic impact on their lives and with the housing loans available they were able to build houses and establish themselves in a safe and secure environment. The Iraq war veteran's organization was founded on April 12, 2003 to make sure that war veterans returning from Iraq would be assisted by the government so that they can have productive and fulfilling lives back in their home town. Nass , 2 The U.S department of veteran affairs and other federal agencies help veterans and their families to gain access to various benefits and services meant for the veterans. The governors of various states have created new programs to complement federal veterans based on their situation and eligibility criteria. Kansas State War Veteran Benefits. The state of Kansas provides several veteran benefits. Educational and Housing Benefits Financial Assistance Benefits Employment Benefits Health care Benefits. Kansas Education Benefits Education and Training Benefits to eligible veterans, dependents and service members while they are in an approved training program or in university, high school, on the job training and apprenticeship. For a veteran who is at least 25 years, has served in the military force, is married and a parent who would like to go to school after an absence of at least 3 years is eligible for the financial aid given by the government in the form of Grants: Available to students who need financial requirements are funds that do not have to be paid. Nass , 3 Scholarships: Kansas State awarded more than $11 million in scholarships last year. Approximately 90%of all scholarships at the university are awarded on the basis of merit. The remaining awards are based on the combination of financial needs and achievements in academic areas activities or sports. Student loans: Loans let the veteran borrow money for college at low interest rates and some loans don't require you to begin making payments until after the veteran finishes college. Special Financial aid is made available to Operation Iraqi freedom war veterans at the Kansas University which is made exclusive for veterans through the post 9/11 GI bill. The new Post 9/11 GIbill discards Montgomery GIbill and provides upfront tuition payments to the school, a living allowance and a book stipend of$1000 a year. Let's take an insight into the Post 9/11 GI bill Educational Benefits via The post 9/11 GI Bill: Eligibility criteria: Post 9/11 GI bill is eligible for individuals with at least 90 days of aggregate service on or after September 11, 2001 or discharged with service connected disability. One must have received an honorable discharge to be eligible for post 9/11 GI bill. This will pay individuals tuition fees and a monthly housing allowance. Yellow ribbon program: Allows institutions of higher learning in the U.S to sign an agreement with veteran affairs to fund tuition expenses that exceed public in state undergraduate tuition rate. Nass , 4 Eligibility: For individuals who have served an aggregate period of active duty after Sep 10,2001 of at least 36 months or were discharged from active duty for service connected disability. Transfer of post 9/11 GI bill benefits to dependents: An eligible service member can transfer up to the total months of unused post 9/11 GI bill benefits either to his spouse or to his children. Montgomery GI Bill Active Duty (MGIB-AD): This bill provides 36 months of educational benefits which maybe used for degree and certificate programs, flight training and apprenticeship or on the job training. Montgomery GI bill Selective Reserve (MGIB-SR) This is available for those who are a member of the selective reserve which maybe used for degree and certificate programs, flight training and apprenticeship or on the job training Reserve Educational Assistance program (REAP) This program is designed to provide educational assistance to members of reserve components called or ordered to active duty in response to war or national emergency. Survivors and Dependents Educational program. It is a program for spouse or a child of a person who has a service connected disability or who is hospitalized or receiving medical care or released from service for his /her disability Tuition and fees payments are issued to the school on behalf of the individual at the time the certificate of enrollment is processed. Maximum amount payable to the Kansas state university per semester is $3,804. Nass , 5 Kansas Veteran Housing Programs Housing Loans The State of Kansas assists veterans in identifying approved lenders and completing applications for loans. The U.S. department of Veteran Affairs and local banks offer a number of home loan services to eligible veterans. Guaranteed Loans: This scheme guarantees part of a loan from a private lender to help veterans buy a home. It also gives out loans for building, repairing, and improving homes. Refinancing Loans: If the eligible member has a mortgage, then this service can help the member to refinance their loan at a lower interest rate. Special Grants: Grants are given to disabled veterans and military personnel to acquire housing suitable for their needs. Housing allowance: An allowance of $1, 113, 00 is paid monthly to the veteran to aid his rental living. Kansas Financial Assistance Benefits Dependents' and Survivors' Benefits Eligibility Applicable to service members who died on active duty and also for veterans who died from service-related disabilities Death pension is payable to some surviving spouses and children of deceased wartime veterans. Nass , 6 Disability Benefits Basic entitlement for a veteran exists if the veteran is disabled as the result of a injury or disease while in active duty Burial Benefits Headstones and Markers: The State of Kansas has a monument to mark the unmarked grave of an eligible member. Burial Flag: The State of Kansas through the Kansas Veterans' Affairs Commission provides an American flag to drape over an eligible veteran's casket at the time of burial. Burial in a National or State Veterans Cemetery: Most veterans, spouses and some dependents are buried in a national cemetery at no cost to the veteran or their family. Kansas Employment Benefits Vocational Rehabilitation & Employment Job Search: State of Kansas gives assistance to veterans to find a suitable employment in order to lead an independent life through an evaluation of their abilities, skills and interest. On the job training and non paid work experience is also given to veterans based on their individual situations. Career guidance and counseling is also provided Kansas Health Care Benefits The State of Kansas assists veterans in the following services such as free hospitalization, outpatient medical, dental, pharmacy and prosthetic services. Nass , 7 Health and rehabilitation programs for homeless veterans Alcohol and drug dependency treatment. Mental health hotlines are also available to veterans where callers can get free personal counseling to treat Post traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and also counseling for family members as to how to give their support and help to the veteran who had returned from war. Prescription Drug Coverage Eligible veterans can also receive free prescriptions or may be eligible for medications with a low co-payment. Kansas Other benefit programs for veterans Life Insurance Veterans Group Life Insurance (VGLI) is renewable five-year term life insurance for veterans. It is available for amounts up to $250,000.Service-Disabled Veterans. Service-Disabled Veterans Insurance, also called "RH" Insurance, is life insurance for service-disabled veterans. The basic coverage is $10,000 Although war is an inefficient instrument towards terror and violence which only multiplies the loss of thousands of lives and brings grief and sorrow to the people who have lost their family members in the battlefield these benefits given to the veterans by the government acts as a means to show that we appreciate the soldiers for their loyalty and patriotism , sacrifice and commitment .We are bound to give our full support and our tribute to the veterans and thank them for their service to the country as they protect the freedoms we enjoy today such as the freedom of speech and freedom of protest . Nass , 8 Works Cited: "Veterans of foreign wars."vfw.org, n.d. Web.20 Mar.2010. "Readjustment and deployment of Iraq war veterans."irqawarveterans.org, n.d. Web 21 Mar. 2010. "Post 9/11 GI bill for veterans." gibill.va.gov, n.d. Web 22 Mar. 2010. "Financial benefits to Iraq war veterans in Kansas state." kcva.org, n.d. Web 23 Mar.2010. "New GIbill for Iraq and Afghan veterans of America." new gibill.org, n.d. Web 23 Mar. 2010. Read More